Sen. Cornyn Says Feds Have Failed, Offers Support For Local Law Enforcement

Local border law enforcement leaders met with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Friday to express the needs of their agencies and the ongoing threat of spillover violence from the border’s drug war. Cornyn said he believes that the federal government has failed at border enforcement and has left local law agencies with the burden. To assist local agencies, Cornyn is introducing legislation that would provide an additional $300 million to agencies within 100 miles of the border. The bill would provide money for additional personnel and technology to help combat border crime. It would also allow the hiring of additional federal district judges to deal with a growing case load. "We know the spill over effect we've heard some about here today. We know it is very real and that people live in fear of their own public safety, and that's unacceptable," Cornyn said after the meeting...more